VNIPIpromtekhnologii JSC (Moscow, Russia)
D. V. Maynikov, Head of Laboratory, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, maynikov.d.v@vnipipt.ru
E. P. Bugrieva, Leading Researcher
Khiagda JSC (Chita, Russia)
E. V. Korgun, First Deputy CEO—Chief Engineer
A. V. Suvorov, Chief Geologist
Currently, more than half of all uranium in the world is extracted by the method of in-situ leaching (ISL). The flagship of the domestic industry in this area is Khiagda JSC, that produces uranium at the Khiagda mineral field since 2009. This mineral field holds eight deposits, including the Vershinnoe deposit. The analysis of core samples from the control well V1.13, performed after several years of operation of the Vershinnoe deposit, revealed a low efficiency of the leaching process. To increase the extraction of uranium, VNIPIpromtekhnologii’s specialists conducted research to de termine the optimal composition of the leaching solution, which would intensify the extraction of metal from the ore material. The results of laboratory tests show that the average uranium extraction from core samples using Khiagda’s leaching solution is approximately 18.5 %. By increasing the acidity of the solution to 20 g/dm3 H2SO4 and due to adding an additional oxidizer, the efficiency of the process was increased to 90 %. The further geotechnological research in the continuous filtration mode showed that the use of Khiagda’s leaching solution, reinforced with 15 g/dm3 of sulfuric acid, with the addition of 1.0 g/dm3 KMnO4 and 0.5 g/dm3 NaNO2, as well as pretreatment of ore material with 7 g/dm3 H2O2, made it possible to achieve uranium extraction at the level of 95.4 %, 95.5 % and 93.6 %, respectively. Based on the results obtained, the calculation of economic efficiency was performed. The calculation shows that increasing the concentration of sulfuric acid to 15 g/dm3 and adding 1 g/dm3 of potassium permanganate reduces operating costs by 48 % at almost two times shortened period of the deposit development.
1. Solodov I. N., Morozov A. A. Physicochemical geotechnologies—The key route to development in uranium industry. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2017. No. 8. pp. 5–10.
2. Radwany M. R., Barton I. F. The process mineralogy of leaching sandstone-hosted uranium-vanadium ores. Minerals Engineering. 2022. Vol. 187. ID 107811.
3. Chen Z., Li Q., Liu M., Song B., Cao M. et. al. Uranium mineralization formed through multi-stage superposition: Case of the Qianjiadian deposit in Songliao Basin, China. Energy Geoscience. 2021. Vol. 2, Iss. 1. pp. 32–40.
4. Wang B., Luo Y., Liu J.-H., Li X., Zheng Z.-H. et. al. Ion migration in in-situ leaching (ISL) of uranium: Field trial and r eactive transport modelling. Journal of Hydrology. 2022. Vol. 615. ID 128634.
5. Zhou Y., Li G., Xu L., Liu J., Sun Z. et. al. Uranium reco very from sandstone-type uranium deposit by acid in-situ leaching – an example from the Kujieertai. Hydrometallurgy. 2020. Vol. 191. ID 105209.
6. Su X., Liu Z., Yao Y., Du Z. Petrology, min eralogy, and ore leaching of sandstone-hosted uranium deposits in the Ordos Basin, North China. Ore Geology Reviews. 2020. Vol. 127. ID 103768.
7. Beysekeev E. Sh., Yazikov E. G., Vorontsov P. Yu., Duysebaeva T. S. Optimization of leaching mode in hydrogenic uranium deposits with high permeability sand benchmark. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University, Geo Assets Engineering. 2023. Vol. 334, No. 4. pp. 34–42.
8. Boytsov A. V. Development of world uranium industry—Key challenges. Razvedka i okhrana nedr. 2022. No. 8. pp. 3–10.
9. Verkhovtsev V. N., Svyatetsky V. S., Mikhailov A. N., Mikhailov A. A. Khiagda JSC: Landmarks and achievements. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2022. No. 4. pp. 4–12.
10. Kochkin B. T., Solodov I. N., Ganina N. I., Rekun M. L., Tarasov N. N. et al. Geochemical features of the ore-bearing medium in uranium deposits in the Khiagda Ore Field. Geology of Ore Deposits. 2017. Vol. 59, No. 5. pp. 341–353.
11. Tarkhanova G. A., Dubinchuk V. T., Chistyakova N. I., Nikitina E. S., Prokhorov D. A. The unique features of uranium ores mineral composition, generation and accumulation of Vershinnoe deposit. Razvedka i okhrana nedr. 2014. No. 6. pp. 7–13.
12. Kochkin B. T., Novgorodtsev A. A., Tarasov N. N., Martynenko V. G. Morphology of orebodies and genesis of uranium deposits in the Khiagda Ore Field. Geology of Ore Deposits. 2014. Vol. 56, No. 6. pp. 479–492.
13. Solodov I. N., Nesterova M. V. Carbonate groundwater—An ore-preserving factor at uranium deposits of the Khiagda Ore Field (Republic of Buryatia). Geology of Ore Deposits. 2021. Vol. 63. pp. 134–144.
14. Doynikova O. A., Tarasov N. N., Kartashov P. M. Uranium mineralization of Vitim paleovalleys deposits. Razvedka i okhrana nedr. 2018. No. 12. pp. 24–30.
15. Solodov I. N., Gladyshev A. V., Ivanov A. G. Experience for extraction of uranium by ISL method in kriolitozone. Razvedka i okhrana nedr. 2017. No. 11. pp. 65–70.
16. Solodov I. N., Kamnev E. N. (Eds.). Uranium Geotechnology (Russian Experience). Moscow : KDU, 2017. 576 p.
17. Kochkin B. T. Reduced-type alterations at exogenic infiltration uranium deposits and their relation to rising groundwater. Geology of Ore Deposits. 2020. Vol. 62, No. 1. pp. 19–30.
18. Solodov I. N., Gladyshev A. V., Gurulev E. A., Suvorov A. V. Influence of acidulous groundwater on in-situ uranium leaching efficiency at Khiagda deposit. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2022. No. 4. pp. 18–24.
19. Gladyshev A. V., Noskov М. D., Solodov I. N., Suvorov А. V. Extraction of uranium from remains at the stage of completion of production units by in-situ leaching method. Tsvetnye Metally. 2024. No. 11. pp. 55–61.
20. Maynikov D. V., Bugrieva E. P., Gurulev E. A., Suvorov A. V. Mineralogical study and development of techniques to intensify the recovery of uranium from Khiagda ores. Tsvetnye Metally. 2023. No. 6. pp. 11–17.